Signal mechanism



Dec. 11,1928. 11,694,573

I E. N. WINSLOW S IGNAL MECHANI SM Filed April 5, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

( a/W4/a7 /V. Mizy/an A TTORN Y5,

Dec. 11, 1928. 1,694,573

E. N. WINSLOW swrm MECHANISM Filed April 5, 1927 s Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Cid/Ward /l Mimi/aw B Y I Array??? Dec. 11, 1928. 1,694,573

I E. N. WINSLOW SIGNAL MECHANISM Filed April 5, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N V EN TOR.

I 'fJM/aro7 lA/l'ns/ow A TTORNEY6 Patented Dec. 11,1928.

UNITED STATES EDWARD N. WINSLOW, 0F SHAKER HEIGHTS, OHIO.

SIGNAL MECHANISM.

Application filed April 5,

The present invention, relating, as indicated,.to signal mechanism is more particularly directed to an improved signal for controlling trailic and for use at street intersections. The present signal is intended to provide an extremely simple and easily operated visual signal and to replace the various types of signals involving the use of banks of colored lights which are now in such general use at street intersections for controlling traflic, and most of which operate by successively connecting into an electrical conduit separate red, yellow and green lights, necessitating a bank of three lights directed along each of the intersecting streets. The present invention-is designed to afford the same general operation and method of control but consists of an extremely simple mechanism which requires no multiplicity of lights and can be easily and conveniently installed and operated.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the .means'hereinaftcr fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims; the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain mechanism embodying-the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one,

of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings Fig. 1 is a View in perspective of my improved mechanism; Fig. 2 is a view similar to the operating part of the device; Fig. 8 is' a section on the line 3-3, Fig. 2'; Fig. 4 is a plan View with the cover of one form of easing; Fig. 5 isa similar viewsho-wing a modification of the construction of Fig. 4; Fig. 6is a View similar to Figs. tand 5, but showing still another modification; Fig.

V 7 is a plan view with the cover removed of a casing similar to that of Fig. 1, but provided interiorly with an operating element giving foursignals for each of the windows or openings in the casing; Fig. 8 is a- View in perspective of the interior operating element of Fig. 7 Fig. 9 is a similar view taken from another angle of the same element; and Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrating one use of my invention at street intersections. M Referring now to F 1, 2 and 3 there is shown a casing lin the form of a hollow cube which is intended to be suspended or supported at a street intersection or. other 1927, Serial No. 181,253.

point where it is desirable to signal with the four lateral faces of the cube facing the intersecting streets. While I have described and shown a cubeit will ingmay be in the general form of asphere with and that the form ofthe remainder of the casing, that isgthe portion which connects these sets of opposed 'walls, is immaterial. For convenience, however, I shall refer to 'a casing having such characteristics as a cube.

Each of these lateral faces of the cube is provided with an opening 2 in which may. be mounted a transparent plateor window, or lens 3, which may be covered by means of a projecting hood or visor 4. On the upper part of the casing there is an extension 5 intended to house the operating mechanism; which will presently be described.

Mounted within the cubical casing 1 is a signaling element in the form of'a mounted cube 10, this element consisting of a box or frame in the form of a cube and having its corners 11 cut off in order to permit it to be rotated freely within the casing without interference with the walls thereof.

be understood that the cats two sets of opposed parallel faces or walls,

pivotally As in the'casing described above the signalthe element, and the form of the element connectingthese faces being in itself immaterial. One half of the signaling elements may be used above which would signal trafiic at right angles in two directions, This box-like frame is carried on two shafts 12 and 13 disposed at diagonally oppositecorners of the casing and aligned with each other, the shaft 12 'beingmounted within a hearing or sleeve 14, which is in turn mounted in the corner of the casing and carries thereon a gear 15 which IS in engagement with a reciprocable rack bar 16, vliicl1, upon longitudinal movement will rotate the gear 15 and with it the entire interior frame about an axis which ex tends through diagonally opposite corners of this cube. The lower shaft 13 is in the form of a sleeve which is mounted about a tubular element 17 fixed in a boss18 disposed inone of the lower corners of the outer casing 1. A thrust bearing 20 is interposed between the end of the boss 18 and the inner or lower end oft-he sleeve or shaft 13 to support the load of the casing. Mounted on the upper end of'the tubular element 21,.which is disposed within the boss and passes through a central openingin the sleeve 13, is a source of light in the form of a bulb 22, the electrical connections for which may be carried within a tube 21 to any suitable source of current supply. By means of a bracket the light 22 may be held in vertical position. Either bearing could be eliminated by means of a single supporting-bearing at either end designed to support the element and admit source of current.

Upon the rotation of the inner signaling member, that is, the cubical frame 10, about the diagonal axis upon which it is mounted, the various faces of this cube are brought into alignment with the windows in the outer casing. This can be most clearly seen by reference to Fig. 2. If the inner cube 10 be rotated about its axis, 'first the face 25 of the inner cube, whichis in alignment with the side 26 of the outer casing; is before the same and parallel thereto, permitting eitherv a word or asignal pictured on the face 25 of the inner cube to be seen through the transparent window in the outer casing, or if a light is mounted in the inner casing, as shown in Fig. 3, this registration permits this light to be seen through the window through the two casings. Upon rotation in a clockwise direction, as viewed from the lower right- I similarly the three inner faces of theinner cube whichmeet at the upper left-hand corner are successively brought into registration with the other two lateral facesof the outer cube. By'in'dicatingon the faces of the inner member such directions as Stop,

I Change, Go, these. equivalents of the ordinary traific signals can be successively brought into registration with each of the faces of the cube. Similarly, by the use of a light, such as the bulb 22, and bythe use of. colored lenses 30 in theinner cube colored lights can be'fiashed'through the transparent I I sides of the outer casing in succession. It

will be understood that the arrangement and I succession of signals around thetwo sides of the inner cube will be so correlated that as the going signals are given on twoopposite sides of the outer cube to be read up and down one street, the alternate stopping sig nals will be given through the other two faces of the cube to be read up and down the intersecting streets, while the intermediate signals will be indicated between each change from goingto stopping.

In its simplest form my invention consists in the use of a diagonally mounted cubical element, with or without a suitable casing, the latter having openings in its four vertical faces and the inner element merely having signs or words directing going, stopping and changing on its six faces, or on three in case only half the cube is used, the operation being manual where the signal is used upon a short support and operated directly by the traffic officer. Under most conditions, however, it is desired to have the signals consist of lights and to suspend the mechanism at a sufficient height above the street to permit of its being seen for a considerable distance. Under these conditions colored lenses or glass may be used i ferent purposes, and of which I have shown one type in Fig. 3.

, Referring now to Fig. 3, I have already described the engagement between the gear 15 on the shaft 12 secured to the inner signaling element and the rack 16, which is formed upon a rod 35 which, at its upper end, is provided with a roll 36 operating in a cam track 37 formed on a cam 38. The latter is secured to one face of a worm gear rotatably mounted in a suitable casing 40 and operated by means of a worm 42 and Worm shaft 43. This latter shaft in turn carries a second worm wheel 44 which 'is operated by a worm 45 on the shaft 46. This shaft may be operated from any suitable source of power, such,

for example, as a small electric motor which,

for economy, may be operated at high speed,

a great reduction in the speed being secured through the double worm mechanism just described. The electric motor, which may be of anystandard type and is not shown, is in constant operation and rotates the shaft 46.

Inn

In this way the worm wheel 44 and shaft 43 are rotate'dat a greatly reduced speed, andthey'in turn operatethe worm wheel 39 at a still further reduction in speed, and in this way rotate the cam 38. As the cam is rotated .the'rod 35 is alternately moved up and down and is held, first in the upper position, and

then inthe lower position for certain periods,

and is held in intermediate positions for shorter periods. The longer periods of rest cause the inner cube to be held stationary with either the red or green lights or with the faces bearing the signals Go and Stop? in registration with the openings in the outer casing. The shorter intermediate rests correspond either with the registration of the yellow lenses,,with the openings in the outer casing, or with some equivalent signal, such as Change or All Stop. It will be understood that if desired the same operation of the signal mechanism can be secured through a remote control of the o eration of the motor connected to the train 0 mechanism driving the interior cube. Should it desired to rotate the signaling element continuously in one direction with the proper stops the above mechanism would be changed to give'the de- .ing andspecially formed lenses or plain glass in the outer, and in Fig. 6, plain colored glass 54: in the inner casing and plain lenses 55 in the outer.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9 I have shown a modification of the inner element. In the form shown in Fig. 8 this element is provided with eight faces and is mounted about a horizontal axis extending through diagonally opposite corners, the corners of the figure being cutoff as before to permit of free rotation within a cubical casing. One half of the signaling elements may beused above which would signal traffic at right angles in two directions as shown in Figure 10.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a plan, view of this element looking at the same from a point aligned with the axis and there are thus seen to be four faces 60, 61, 62 and 63, which are successively brought into registration with each vertical side wall or opening in the outer casing 65. Thus, by mounting signalling elements 66, 67 68 and 69 of yellow, red, yellow and green glass, respectively, in these four faces the going and stopping signals are given alternately with an intermediate yellow signal between each change, to give the same sequence of color signals as are ordinarily used in traffic signals today. One of the two yellowsignals may be of a diflerent color to give any desired result of signaling.

The advantages of my improved signaling mechanism are its extreme simplicity, and the fact that all of the desired changes and signals may be secured in a single unitary casing without the necessity for providing various banks of lights or lenses, and the further advantages that there are no exposed lenses except the one through which the signal is being given to catch the glare of the sun or to confuse car drivers when lookingat the signals. "There is no glare from any other adjacent lenses to compete with the trafic light itself, as is the case where two or more lenses are mounted in alignment, in which case many times the glare of the sun is thrown back by the lenses which are not in operation, making it necessary to use a very strong light through the lens which is in operation in order to make the signal seen against the glow from the other two lenses.

It will be understood that in certain cases my improved mechanism may be used either with signal elements having six or eight faces, or in certain, positions even more, inwhich only one-half of the faces, that is, the set adjacent to one end of the shaft axis, are in operation, as for example, under conditions which are illustrated in Fig. 10. In this figure I have shown two intersecting streets 70 and 71 with signals mounted at each of the corners 72, 73, 7 4 and 7 5. A single signaling element mounted at each of these corners and provided with one-half of the inner element in operation, that is, equipped with suitable transparent or translucent windows or lenses, will provide a signal facing in two directions, as indicated by the arrows. By thus mounting four semi-signaling elements at such an intersection two light controls are given in each direction, that is, facing down each of the streets extending from the intersection, which will provide a very much more convenient signal for car drivers than present types which afi'ord only a single light control that is visible from any one street.

Another advantage is the adaptability of the present signaling mechanism to simple hand-operated signals, to high signals mount ed over or at corners of intersections and operated either remotely and manually or automatically as may be desired.

(Ither modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the follow ing claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularlypoint out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In a signal mechanism, the combination of a supporting frame and a signaling element pivotally mounted in said supporting frame about an axis extending therethrough, said element being provided with adjoining faces lying in planes at identical angles with respect to said axis, and said axis being so disposed with respect to said faces that upon rotation it will bring said faces successively into substantially vertical planes.

2. In a signal mechanism, the combination of a frame and a signaling element provided with pairs of opposed parallel faces, said elelib of said pairs of opposed faces into vertical planes.

3. In a signal mechanism, the combination of a'supporting frame and a signaling element oscillatorily mounted'in said frame. said element being provided with pairs of spaced parallel faces arranged in cubical relation,and said axis being disposed diagonally ofthe cube formed by said faces whereby oscillation of said element about said axis will successively bring into vertical planes each of said pairs of spaced parallel faces, and said faces bearing signaling indicia.

41. e In a signal mechanism, the combination of a casing provided with two pairs of opposed spaced sides, the sides of said two pairs being at substantially right angles to each other, said sides being provided with openings and a signaling element oscillatorily mounted within said casing, said element being provided with pairs of spaced parallel faces and said element being oscillatorily mounted about an axis which is diagonal with respect to the sides of said outer casing and having one of the faces of each of said sets adjoining each other and making equal angles with said axis, said signaling element having signaling indicia on its various faces whereby rotation of said element will suecessively bring into registration with the sides I of said casing, the sides of said element bearing said indicia. i

5. In a signal mechanism, the combination of a supporting frame and a signaling element oscillatorily mounted in said frame, said element being provided with pairs of spaced faces arrange in cubical relation, and said axis being disposed dia onally of the cube formed by said faces w ereby oscillation of said element about said axis will suecessively bring into vertical planes each of} said pans of spaced parallel faces, said faces bearing signaling indicia, andmeans for oscillating said element.

6. In a signal mechanism, the combination of a supporting frame'and a signaling element oscillatorily mounted in said frame,

said element being provided with' pairs of spaced faces arranged in cubical relation, and

'60 'said' axis being disposed diagonally of the cube formed by said faces whereby oscillation of said element about said axis will subcessively bring into vertical planes each of said pairs of spaced parallel faces, said faces bearing signaling indicia, and means for automatically oscillating said element.

7. i In a signal mechanism, the combination of a supportln g frame and a signaling element oscillatorily mounted in said supporting frame about an axis extending diagonally therethrough, said element being provided with adjoining faces lying in planes at identical angles with respect to said axis, said axis being so disposed with respectto saidfaces that upon rotation it will bring; said faces Lea ners successivel into substantially vertical planes, and exten ing shields on said frame 'for limiting the horizontal angle through which the respective faces on said signaling element are visible. I

8. In a signal mechanism, the combination of a casing, square in horizontal section and provided with translucent portions in its four sides, and a polygonally shaped element disposed within said casing and pivotally mounted upon an axis extending diagonally and horizontally through said casing, said element being provided with signaling indicia on its respective sides, and means for" turning said element to bring said indicia alternately into registration with the openings in said casing.

9. In a signal mechanism, the combination of a casing in the form of a cube mounted to have four of its outer walls in vertical planes, said walls being provided with cen trally disposed translucent elements therein, a signaling element consisting of a cubical member disposed within said casing, and pivotally mounted about an axis extending diagonally from one upper corner of said outer casing to an opposite lower corner and passing through one upper corner of said inner member to one opposite lower corner, an element providing a source of light disposed within said inner cube and said inner cube being provided with colored transparent elements in its respective walls, and means for rotating saidinner signaling element to alternately bring the colored elements in its walls into registration with the transparent elements in the vertical walls of said outer casing.

\ 10. In asignal mechanism, the combination ofa casing in the form of a cube mounted w have four of the outer walls in vertical planes, said walls being provided with centrally disposed translucent elements therein, a'si aling element consisting of a cubical 'mein er disposed within said casing, and pivotally mounted about an axis extending diagonally from one upper corner of said outer casing to an opposite lower corner and passing through one upper corner of said inner member to one opposite lower corner, an, element providing a source of light disposed with-in'said inner cube and said inner cube being provided with colored transparent elements in its respective walls, and automatically operated means for rotating said inner signaling element to alternately bring the colored elements in its walls into registration with thetransparent elements in the vertical walls of said outer casing.

11. In a signal mechanism, the combination of a casing in the form of a cube mounted to have four of its outer walls in vertical planes, said walls being provided with light transmitting openings therein,asignaling ele- 'ment, consisting of a eubical'inember disposed within said casing and pivotally mounted about an axis extending diagonally from one upper corner of said outer casing to an opposite lower corner and passingthrough one upper corner of said inner member to one opposite lower corner, a fixed tubular,memher concentric with said axis and extending from one of the corners of said outer casing, a source of light mounted on the inner end of said tubular member, and operating means therefor disposed within said tubular member.

12. In a signal mechanism, the combination of a casing in the form of a cube mounted to have four of its outer walls in vertical planes, said walls being provided with light transmitting openings therein, asignaling element consisting of a cubicalmember disposed within said casing and pivotallymounted about an axis extending diagonally from one upper corner of said outer casing to an opposite lower eorner and passing through one upper corner of said inner member to one opposite lower corner, an element providing a source of light disposed within said inner cube and said inner cube-being proirided with colored transparent lenses in its respective walls, whereby upon rotation of said inner element the colored'lenses in said inner element are successively brought into registration with the light transmitting openings in said outer casing. v Signed by me, this 31 day of March, 1927.

EDWARD N. WINSLOW. 

